Join the Green School for a fascinating exploration of the 4th-century Sanskrit poet Kālidāsa, often hailed as the “Shakespeare of India.” Kālidāsa’s works captured acclaim in his own era and spread to Europe after William Jones’ 1789 English translation of The Recognition of Shakuntala (Abhijñānaśākuntalam). His enduring relevance raises an intriguing question: what explains the centuries of admiration for his poetry? The history of reading Kālidāsa, Dr. Subramaniam argues, serves as a window onto a much broader history of the idea of literature, exhibiting the myriad ways that the art of writing has been understood and leveraged. If Kālidāsa has remained relevant for nearly two millennia, it is because his poetry has satisfied many different understandings of what literature is for. What does the art of writing promise today, and can Kālidāsa deliver?

Join us also for a lighting ceremony, Indian food and classical dance performance in celebration of Diwali 2025.